Greetings to you from the St Paul’s College SCM Unit.

It’s my privilege to bring you the second edition of this magazine. We were bit late to take it out, as we were very busy with different activities of SCM. We had a long schedule of program during the months from January to March. 

One of our great success has been the launching of our website http://scmi.netfirms.com . It took a lot of our hard work and dedication to make this dream a success. Perhaps we are the only SCM unit in the country to have its own Web Site. Please do visit our web site and do keep sending us those wonderful suggestions. Even you can be a part of this by sending articles for the web site.

The month of March was very special to us as we celebrated Women’s Day. That is the very reason that we decided to dedicate this issue towards women’s issue. Hope you will like it. 

We would like to wish all the members and staff of St Paul’s College, Principal, Sandip Pramanik our Program Secretary, and to all the members of Student Christian Movement a Happy Easter.

With Warm Regards

Subhadip Mukherjee
 

Some facts on International Women’s day    By Elizabeth Joy

Introduction

It is indeed a moment of great joy, happiness and hope for me to share and reflect my thoughts on Gender concerns with you young friends belonging to St. Paul’s unit. I was indeed very happy to meet all of you last month and to know about your activities, especially about the launching of a website. Sincere congratulations once again! I choose to address you under this section - Gender Concerns so that these reflections, interactions and articulations will not be marginalized as women’s issues/women’s page/women’s section meant for women’s contribution to educate or benefit women or young girls alone.  While sex which is a biological term refers to the biological difference in man and woman which is natural and essential, gender refers to the cultural term which imposes ideas and values on the biological term leading to destructive discrimination within the family, church and society.

This month – March 2002, is very important as it marks apart from the annual International Women’s Day (8th March), the Easter Day also (31st March). Both these days are important for every Christian man and woman as they enable us to understand God’s significant role in history. God has empowered women to be partners with God in the process of transforming the world with acts of love, peace and justice that all may have life and life in abundance! This provides us an apt opportunity to begin our journey to understand the deeper truths about women – the victims of the patriarchal Church and Society.

The International Women’s Day

The International Women’s Day (IWD) may sound as an unwanted celebration where elite women continue to express their demands for liberation. This Liberation is often misunderstood as an unjust demand from women who are mocked to be the promoters of “women’s liberation” which has a stigma in the Indian context especially within the Indian Church. An attempt to look into the history of the IWD and the events of Easter morning will open our hearts and minds to perceive the pain in the cry of women from different sections of our Society and Church.

History of IWD

This dates back to 8th march, 1857,which marks the first organized massive revolt by women –  young garment and textile workers. This took place in the New York City were these young girls - teenagers raised their voice against the long working hours, low wages and the inhumane working conditions that they were subjected to. This did not bring about any solution rather increased violent struggles with the power structures.  The struggles continued and in 1908 about 15000 women with the slogan “Bread and Roses” (bread symbolizing health and economic security and the roses an enhanced quality of life) marched on the streets of the New York City.

 In September 1909, two local International Ladies Garment Workers’ Union (ILGWU) protested against the Triangle Shirtwaist Company and Leiserson & Co. and went on a strike. In fact, in November 1909, it was Clara Lamblich, a teenager, an active person in the struggle for justice that mooted the idea of a general strike and she declared it! This is what she said, “I am a working girl, and one of those who are on strike against intolerable conditions. I am tired of listening to your speeches…I offer a resolution that a general strike be declared… now.” This strike ended in February 1910, once again without remarkable results. However, this gave the women’s labour movement an initial impetus to fight for their rights. Young women about 20,000 and 30,000 joined the strike. The German Socialist Clare Zetkin, moved by this historic strike, paved way for the Women Socialist International to accept the idea of observing an International Working Women’s Day to mark this strike of the young women garment workers.  In 1911, there was a tragic fire in the Triangle shirtwaist company, which devastated the 8th, 9th and 10th floors of this building. This resulted in the death of about 146 workers among whom the majority were young girls. Many lost their lives trying to save themselves by jumping out of the windows, as the staircases were kept locked to keep the union organizers out.

On 23rd February 1917, the Russian women textile workers went on strike protesting against their poor living conditions and food shortages with the slogan “bread and peace”. They appealed to many workers for their support. About 90,000 men and women joined on this day to protest against the poor working conditions and to demand for their rights. This day was observed as the International Working Women’s Day. Later this day – 23rd February according to the Julian calendar, was observed on March 8th its equivalent in the Gregorian calendar, which was more popular in most of the European countries. 

From the year 1975, the United Nations celebrates 8th March as the International Women’s Day stressing on the following two points: 
· To recognize the fact that securing peace and social progress and the full enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedom require the active participation, equality and development of women.
· To acknowledge the contribution of women to the strengthening of International peace and security.

The International Women’s Decade 1975-1985 declared by the UN gave a tremendous impetus to Governments, women’s organizations and women’s movements around the world.  This enabled the so-called third world countries to focus the attention on the situations of women in their countries, network with similar groups both at national and international levels. 
 

Vision of hope Contributed   by Doris Baa

There was a young boy who used to come for regular practices but always played in the reserves and never made it to the soccer eleven.

While he was practicing, his father used to sit at the far end, waiting for him. The matches had started and for four days he didn’t show up for practice or the quarterfinals or semifinals. All of a sudden he showed up for the finals, went to the coach and said, “Coach you have always kept me in the reserve and never let me play in the finals. But today, please let me play.” The coach said. “Son, I’m sorry, I can’t let you. There are better players than you and besides, it is the finals, the reputation of the school is at stake and I cannot take a chance.”

The boy pleaded, “Coach, I promise I will not let you down. I beg of you, please let me play”. The coach had never seen the boy plead like this before. He said, “Ok, son, go, play”. But remember, I am going against my better judgment and the reputation of the school is t stake. Don’t let me down”.

The game started and the boy played like a house on fire. Every time he got the ball, he shot a goal. Needless to say, he was the best player and the star of the game. His team had a spectacular win.

When the game finished, the coach went up to him and said, “son, how could I have been so wrong in my life. I have never seen you play like this before. What happened? How did you play so well?” the boy replied, “coach, my father is watching me today. The coach turned around and looked at the place where the boy’s father used to sit. There was no one there. He said, “son, your father used to sit there when you came for practice, but I don’t see anyone there today.” The boy replied, “coach, there is something I never told you. My father was blind. Just four days ago he died. Today is the first day he is watching me from above.”

Violence Against Women - A Double Discrimination

 Source: Amnesty International, International Secretariat, 1 Easton Street, WC1X 8DJ, London, United Kingdom 

Authorities in India are failing to prevent violence against women and sometimes take an active part in it, Amnesty International said today in a new report launched as part of the organization's international campaign against torture.
The report highlights patterns of violence including the beating, stripping and rape of women, in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. It focuses particularly on dalit ("untouchables") and adivasi (tribal) women; their lack of access to justice, and the failure of the state to protect them at the local level. These women often suffer a double discrimination; discrimination on the basis of caste as well as gender. 

Although high levels of violence against women are widely acknowledged by the authorities and some steps are being taken to address these problems, officials at the local level continue to ignore complaints, take bribes, and cover up the abuses. 
"In a year declared by the Indian government as the Year of Empowerment of Women, Amnesty International hopes the government will take its policies seriously and not confine them to paper alone," the organization said.

"The organization is calling on the government to consider implementation of the comprehensive recommendations in the new report, which would help make the rights of women a reality in India."
Many women don't approach police for fear of dishonor or that they will be dismissed or further abused. An activist working with women in Uttar Pradesh estimated that only 5% of cases of violence against dalit women are registered. Many dalits are not aware of their rights under special legislation designed to protect them, and it is rare for police to voluntarily inform them.
Police are also accused of withholding and destroying evidence in many cases, usually at the behest of the accused with which they may have caste or other links. Witnesses often withdraw their testimony after taking a bribe or being threatened by the accused and medical evidence is lost because simple procedures are not followed. The length of time it takes to pursue a case of torture through the courts encourages victims to make compromises under pressure.

Narbada, an 18-year-old woman from Udaipur district of Rajasthan told Amnesty International that she was raped by a Rajput (upper caste) landlord in March 2000. The attacker's mother reportedly heard the victim's screams but did nothing to stop her son. She then beat Narbada and told her not to go to the police. When Narbada tried to go to the police with her uncle, 50 Rajputs stopped them.

When they reached the police station two days later, they were verbally abused and told to pay Rs. 500 ($11) if they wanted to file a complaint, which they refused to do. They traveled three and half-hours to the district headquarters where the Superintendent of Police recorded their complaint. Police were present during her medical examination, which was conducted four weeks after the rape. When the case went to court, the public prosecutor tried to convince Narbada and her family to withdraw the complaint. Narbada and her family continue to face harassment from members of the Rajput community. 
Women activists in India have played a crucial role in highlighting problems faced by women but they are often punished for it, becoming victims of violence themselves. 

"The Indian government has a long way to go in bridging the gap between promises of protection for women and actual protection for women," Amnesty International said.

Sweet Dreams   by Subhadip Mukherjee

Sometimes in life we tend to accept rather believe in certain dreams. The same kind of so-called natural phenomenon happened to me also. I was dreaming after all. Dream, not the one that you experience while you are asleep but the one that you see while you are awake.

This story is just a narration of one such dream. The day was…. well I don’t remember much but I think first week of January. It was bit chilling that day. Akash just pulled up the chain of his jacket to get a bit warmer. Well when you are sitting in an examination hall you don’t feel much warm either. It was his English examination. But for some reason he was getting worried for something else. There comes his tension. Long black hair, eyes like pearls there she enters the class. Akash quickly turns his face around to prevent eye contact. Rimi just walks in to the class and sits right next to Akash. Akash turns around to see Rimi as if this was the first time that he was seeing here. With a big smile he asked Rimi how she spent the Christmas. As usual she smiled back, and said that she did not enjoy her Christmas. But thanked Akash for sending her the beautiful Christmas card. Akash was on cloud number nine, as he had never imagined that she would appreciate his card so much. 

Akash and Rimi were friends for few months but it seemed as if they were made for each other. Days went by and so did the seasons. By now it was mid summer in the month of May. Akash never wore his jacket now instead he was walking down the class corridor in his cool summer t-shirts. Even Rimi was wearing the same t-shirt. They had bought it together to remind them of there friendship. As the day was approaching when they had to leave the school for going to college they knew very well that they had to part each other, as Rimi’s parent were settling out of the town. On the last day they decided that every month they would write each other a letter that would be in a green envelope to remind them of there never-ending friendship. But if any one ever sends a letter with a red envelope that means that person would no longer want to be a friend.

Again my dreams kept on moving from months to months. By now it was December again. This December was however a bit warmer. It had been eight months since Akash had seen Rimi. Some how this distance was killing him. He had received around six mails from Rimi. And Akash sent around dozen of them all of them in green envelopes. Akash was somehow worried, as Rimi had not written him any mails for around two months. Akash eagerly kept waiting for the mail to arrive. He was more worried as in his last few mails Akash had asked Rimi whether she has any feelings for him. As he loved her a lot. Akash was worried whether she would accept her proposal. 

It was 25th of December Christmas. Akash was sitting in the garden when the postman arrived like a Santa Clause with a bright Red letter. Akash’s heart had frozen, as he did not know what to expect from the letter. He knew it was from Rimi by looking at the return address on the envelope. Strangely her name was missing on the envelope. Akash took a deep breath and opened the letter. It contained the line, which he could never imagine in his life. The words were bold “Akash I ………… ……………….…” 

Well you may be wondering why I did not complete the story. Its not my fault in the very beginning I had told you that it was just a dream. And I have woken up from it. Why don’t you continue my dream………………Sweet dreams

Miss you Mamma  By Rodrick Biraj Kerketta

It is priceless Contributed by Doris Baa

The most precious things in life money just cant buy. Do know what?

Money will buy:

Amusement but not happiness.
A bed but not sleep.
Books but not wisdom.
A clock but not more time.
Companions but not friends.
Finery but not beauty.
Food but not appetite.
A house but not a home.
Medicine but not health.
A ring but not a marriage.

Fun Time

Bath Towels
Why do we wash bath towels? Aren't we clean when we use them?

Glue
Why doesn't glue stick to the inside of the bottle?

Research
Why do scientist call it "re"search when they are looking for something new?

What Time Is It
Why do people without a watch look at their wrist when you ask them what time it is?

Non Sufficient Funds
Why do banks charge a "Non Sufficient Funds Fee" on money they already know you don't have?

Remote Control
How come you press harder on a remote control when you know the batteries are dead?

Deep Thoughts
What would a chair look like, if your knees bent the other way? 

Deep Thoughts
What do you do when you see an endangered animal eating an endangered plant? 

Deep Thoughts
Is there another word for synonym? 

Deep thoughts
If a turtle doesn't have a shell, is he homeless or naked? 

Deep thoughts
If a man is standing in the middle of the forest speaking and there is no woman around to hear him - Is he still wrong?

Deep thoughts
If a deaf person swears, does his mother wash his hands with soap?

Deep thoughts
If vegetable oil comes from vegetables, where does baby oil come from?

Deep thoughts
How much deeper would the oceans be without sponges?

Deep thoughts
Everyone has a photographic memory; it's just that some of us are out of film.

Deep Thoughts
When cheese gets it's picture taken, what does it say? 

Deep thoughts
It's not hard to meet expenses... they're everywhere. 

Cartoon Section

Designed, Typeset & Edited by: Subhadip Mukherjee For any information contact us at St. Paul's College.  E-Mail: subhadipm@india.com

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